Age Quote by Edward Lear
“I am almost thanking God that I was never educated, for it seems to me that 999 of those who are so, expensively and laboriously, have lost all before they arrive at my age-& remain like Swift's Stulbruggs-cut and dry for life, making no use of their earlier-gained treasures:-whereas, I seem to be on the threshold of knowledge.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Owl and the Pussycat" (parody), 1864
The speaker sarcastically thanks lack of formal education, suggesting that formal learning can be burdensome and that practical knowledge may be more valuable.
In simple terms: Thanks for not being educated because school can be costly and useless.
Key Takeaway
Value experience over formal schooling.
Themes
education
knowledge
irony
pragmatism
Mood
wry
reflective
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- self‑education
- lifelong learning
Key Concepts
formal vs informal learning
knowledge acquisition
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What knowledge have you gained outside school?
- When does formal education help?
A Different Perspective
It dismisses the benefits of structured education and critical thinking.
